PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION:Loratadine is a tricyclic antihistamine with long-acting selective peripheral H1 receptor antagonist activity. It does not readily cross the blood brain barrier. Following administration, maximal serum levels are reached within 1,5 hours and clinical effect is achieved within 2 hours. Most of a dose is excreted equally in the urine and faeces.

INDICATIONS:CLARINESE  tablets are used for the symptomatic relief of chronic urticaria and seasonal allergic rhinitis.

CONTRA-INDICATIONS:CLARINESE tablets are contra-indicated in patients who have shown hypersensitivity to any of its ingredients. The safety of loratadine during pregnancy or lactation has not been established.
The safety of loratadine in the elderly has not been established.

DOSAGE AND DIRECTIONS FOR USE:One CLARINESE  tablet (10 mg) taken once daily.

SIDE-EFFECTS AND SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:SIDE-EFFECTS:
The most commonly reported side-effects are fatigue, dry mouth, allergic symptoms like rash, headache, gastrointestinal disturbances (eg. gastric upsets/nausea) and somnolence.
The more uncommon side-effects include alopecia, anaphylaxis and an abnormal hepatic functioning.
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:
CLARINESE  lacks significant sedative effects. Patients should however be warned that a small number of individuals may experience sedation. Patients experiencing sedation or impaired concentration should be advised not to drive or perform complicated tasks. Sedation may be enhanced by the simultaneous intake of alcohol or other central nervous system depressants.
Less frequent incidences of abnormal hepatic function including hepatitis, jaundice and hepatic necrosis have been reported.
For patients with severe liver impairment who may experience difficulty in the clearance of loratadine, a lower dose is recommended, ie. an initial dose of 5 mg (half tablet) once daily or 10 mg (one tablet) every other day.
INTERACTIONS:
Concomitant use of CLARINESE  with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants may result in sedation.
CLARINESE  is metabolised by the cytochrome P450 iso-enzymes CYP3A4 and CYPD26 and therefore should be given with caution to patients taking other medicines metabolised by the same enzymes due to possible precipitation of adverse effects of other medicines (e.g. cimetidine, ketoconazole, quinidine, fluconazole, fluoxetine).

KNOWN SYMPTOMS OF OVERDOSAGE AND PARTICULARS OF ITS TREATMENT:Symptoms of overdosage include headache, somnolence and tachycardia. Symptomatic and supportive treatment should be started immediately. It is not known if loratadine is dialyzable. The patient should remain under medical supervision after treatment for overdosage.